Chad

Due to all the "controversy" this year concerning running times, commentaries and the like, I've decided to leave it up to everyone to decide certain rules for the next challenge. This thread will remain open prior to next year's event, so there's absolutely no rush to provide your answers. Check my sig to access this thread at anytime.



1. What should constitute a qualifying feature film:


A) The current 40-minute rule -- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the American Film Institute, and the British Film Institute all define a feature as a film with a running time of forty minutes or longer.

B) 60 minutes. Please note this would disqualify some older Universal, etc. films that run slightly under an hour as well as a few "Masters of Horror" episodes.

C) Other. Please explain.



2. Concerning "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" being the one exception to the rules:


A) It (and only it) should be the one qualifying exception and continue to count as it's required Halloween viewing.

B) It should NOT count as it does not meet current specifications.

C) Enact the three "wild cards" option as brought-up by caligulathegod.

D. Other. Please explain.



3. Should commentaries count:


A) Yes, and with no limits.

B) Yes, but with a limit of one per film.

C) Yes, but only one viewing is allowed: Either with a commentary or without.

D) No. Only films.

E) Other. Please explain.



4. Should television series (Buffy, Angel, Supernatural, etc.) count:


A) Yes. As long as it falls within whatever time-frame is decided upon.

B) No. As the titles indicates, it's "The October Horror MOVIE Challenge".

C) Other. Please explain.



5. Should horror documentaries (The American Nightmare, Boogeymen, Fear in the Dark, etc.) count:


A) Yes.

B) No.

C) Other. Please explain.



6. Should we continue having two separate threads (One for lists, one for discussion):


A) Yes. It makes the lists easier to sort through.

B) No. Everything should be contained within one single thread.

C) Other. Please explain.

Chad

What I think:


1. A) Keep the current 40-minute rule intact. This keeps certain older films, Masters of Horror episodes, etc. that are just under the one-hour mark from not qualifying. And lets face it, it's not exactly as if there's an abundance of horror films under the 60-minute mark to begin with.

2. A) Keep things just as they are. Again, I view it as your one "free pass" that's also essential Halloween viewing.

3. B) Yes, with a limit of one per film. I don't see any problem with catching a film with the commentary track enabled as long as you actually watch it all the way through. It also allows someone to view a film that they may not particularly enjoy to experience it in a whole new way (e.g. "I Spit on Your Grave" w/Joe Bob Briggs track). Now, if you're someone who likes to multitask and just listen while you're doing whatever else...of course not.

4. B) No. My intention from the very beginning from was to only include movies just as the title indicates.

5. A) Yes. It's not as if there's that many out there to begin with. And to my knowledge they all run at the 90-minute or above mark.

6. A) Yes! It makes it much easier to sort through the lists...and it makes my job so much easier!

mrpeavey

My responses are below:



1. What should constitute a qualifying feature film:


A) The current 40-minute rule -- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the American Film Institute, and the British Film Institute all define a feature as a film with a running time of forty minutes or longer.

- I say stick with this. I like the old Universal flicks.



2. Concerning "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" being the one exception to the rules:

C) Enact the three "wild cards" option as brought-up by caligulathegod.


- I don't mind the wild card option.



3. Should commentaries count:

C) Yes, but only one viewing is allowed: Either with a commentary or without.

- This seems fair - commentary or no, the movie is the movie.



4. Should television series (Buffy, Angel, Supernatural, etc.) count:


B) No. As the titles indicates, it's "The October Horror MOVIE Challenge".

- This just about says it. I say the three wild cards could apply to TV episodes.


5. Should horror documentaries (The American Nightmare, Boogeymen, Fear in the Dark, etc.) count:


A) Yes.

- If they're 40 + minutes, then yes.




6. Should we continue having two separate threads (One for lists, one for discussion):


A) Yes. It makes the lists easier to sort through.


Yes, two threads! And maybe a sticky should be placed on the Movie List Thread.

EdTheRipper

1. A) I think the current 40 minute rule is just fine. That's the standard definition of a feature so it's good enough for me.

2. A) I think it should continue to be the only free pass.

3. C) One viewing only. Like mrpeavey said, the movie is the movie with or without commentary.

4. B) No, tv shows should not be counted. This is a MOVIE challenge, not a television challenge.

5. C) Yes, they should count but they have to meet the 40+ minute runtime.

6. A) Yes, definitely. Two seperate threads keeps everything organized so that you don't have to rifle through 20 pages to find a single post. Also, a sticky on the Movie List thread would be a nice touch. That way we wouldn't have so many one word posts saying "bump" mixed in amongst the lists.

onebyone

1. What should constitute a qualifying feature film:

A) The current 40-minute rule -- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the American Film Institute, and the British Film Institute all define a feature as a film with a running time of forty minutes or longer.


2. Concerning "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" being the one exception to the rules:

C) Enact the three "wild cards" option as brought-up by caligulathegod. I think this should be expanded though to TV shows as well. I like to watch a few Halloween themed episodes every year religiously. Why not count them in the wild cards? If you can contain the number, it seems in the spirit of Halloween horror viewing to count them to me.


3. Should commentaries count:

C) Yes, but only one viewing is allowed: Either with a commentary or without.


4. Should television series (Buffy, Angel, Supernatural, etc.) count:

B) No. As the titles indicates, it's "The October Horror MOVIE Challenge". I do support the Wild Card option being broadened to count a few TV viewings though.


5. Should horror documentaries (The American Nightmare, Boogeymen, Fear in the Dark, etc.) count:

A) Yes.


6. Should we continue having two separate threads (One for lists, one for discussion):


A) Yes. It makes the lists easier to sort through.

TuMakaPac713

A) 40 minute rule is fine.
B) I like the 3 wild cards idea. Why should I not get credit for watching Horror shorts such as Aftermath, Genesis, Cutting Moments, etc?
C) Commentaries: Either watch the movie with the commentary or watch it without. You should only get credit for one.
D) TV Series' shouldn't count.
E) Horror documentaries should still count.
F) Yes, continue having separate threads

josepotato

1.A 2.A 3.C 4.B 5.A 6.B

As far as having one or two threads, I guess I like just having one thread better because it keeps all the conversation in one place.

MechanicalMan

1. A) I think this is fine the way it is, although I'm not thrilled about stuff like MOH being included.

2. B or C) Why would there be an exception only for Great Pumpkin? Required Halloween viewing? Humph. I'd rather watch Disney's Legend of Sleepy Hollow or something. If you're going to allow some exceptions to the "horror movie" criteria, then let people choose what they want to watch.

3. C) Only one viewing: watch films you've never seen, watch your favorite horror movies that you've seen 1,000 times before, watch movies with commentaries/riffing, do all of the above, etc. But, IMO, it's lame to keep watching the same movie over and over.

4. B) Not unless the title is changed to "Halloween-related-stuff challenge" or something. If this is going to be called a "horror movie challenge," then we should all be watching movies. If most people want to watch certain episodes of a TV series--or other Halloween-ish stuff--then I think that should be addressed by something like caligulathegod's "wild card" idea.

5. C) I personally don't have a problem with people watching "real" horror documentaries, but is there a way to exclude the "making of" featurettes and whatnot that are included on some DVDs? I think it seems like certain things should count, but others shouldn't...

6. A) It seems like a good idea to me. I'm not sure this should even be up for debate; if this makes things easier for Chad (or whoever), then I'm sure the rest of us can handle it.

hiccup

1.a
2.c
3.b
4.b
5.b
6.b

noitulove

1. What should constitute a qualifying feature film:
A) The current 40-minute rule

2. Concerning "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" being the one exception to the rules:
C) Enact the three "wild cards" option as brought-up by caligulathegod.

3. Should commentaries count:
C) Yes, but only one viewing is allowed: Either with a commentary or without.

4. Should television series (Buffy, Angel, Supernatural, etc.) count:
B) No. As the titles indicates, it's "The October Horror MOVIE Challenge".

5. Should horror documentaries (The American Nightmare, Boogeymen, Fear in the Dark, etc.) count:
A) Yes.

6. Should we continue having two separate threads (One for lists, one for discussion):
A) Yes. It makes the lists easier to sort through.

indiephantom

I think everything worked really well. Except my inability to finish what I started.

Muad'Dib

1. A - The current 40-minute rule -- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the American Film Institute, and the British Film Institute all define a feature as a film with a running time of forty minutes or longer.

2. C - Enact the three "wild cards" option as brought-up by caligulathegod.

3. B - Yes, but with a limit of one per film.

4. B - No. As the titles indicates, it's "The October Horror MOVIE Challenge".

5. A - Yes.

6. A - Yes. It makes the lists easier to sort through.

Jediturtle

1. What should constitute a qualifying feature film:
A) The current 40-minute rule -- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the American Film Institute, and the British Film Institute all define a feature as a film with a running time of forty minutes or longer.

Who are we to argue with the Academy and all the other institutes that recognize this rule? Besides, I'd hate a rule that excludes any of the classics!


2. Concerning "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" being the one exception to the rules:
C) Enact the three "wild cards" option as brought-up by caligulathegod.

The wild card rule would end a lot of whining. Three sounds right to me, but a one-a-week rule might work too.


3. Should commentaries count:
C) Yes, but only one viewing is allowed: Either with a commentary or without.

Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don't. I say you watch the movie, it should count, regardless of the soundtrack picked...but only once.


4. Should television series (Buffy, Angel, Supernatural, etc.) count:
B) No. As the titles indicates, it's "The October Horror MOVIE Challenge".

This could fall into the wildcard rules. Fine if you must...but it counts as one of your three wildcards..


5. Should horror documentaries (The American Nightmare, Boogeymen, Fear in the Dark, etc.) count:
C) Other. Please explain.

Grey area here. If docs are allowed, then like we saw this year, many will count every little making of doc on a DVD, which I do not think is right. My vote would be for the wildcard to apply here. Much like a TV series, a documentary is not a "movie". If they are allowed, it should be specified that they must be a "general" documentary...not a making-of. Should also have a length constraint (probably 40 min also).


6. Should we continue having two separate threads (One for lists, one for discussion):
A) Yes. It makes the lists easier to sort through.

Two threads make life easier.

Mr. Cinema

1. 40+ rule stays.
2. It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown is not A HORROR MOVIE!!!!!!!!! End of discussion.
3. Watch with or without commentary, but only count once.
4. See statement from B. A tv show is NOT A HORROR MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5. yeah, sure
6. 1 thread for listing only, 1 for discussion. how simple is that?

alfonsosoriano

Who......cares?

Seriously folks it's just a game. No sense bitching about something people make up to win anyways.

Spiral Staircase

1) A 40 minutes or greater A 60 minutes rule is absurd when dealing with genre films.
2) C Three Wild Cards
3) D No commentaries
4) A Yes, if they are at least 40 minutes long without commercials.
5) B No Docs
6) A Yes


Retitle the event: October Halloween Challenge

RobCA

Here are my choices... my comments (if any) follow in italics:

1. What should constitute a qualifying feature film:

A) The current 40-minute rule -- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the American Film Institute, and the British Film Institute all define a feature as a film with a running time of forty minutes or longer.

I'd say stick with this one... if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

2. Concerning "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" being the one exception to the rules:

B) It should NOT count as it does not meet current specifications.

That about sums it up... I love the Peanuts specials too, but they're not movies. I don't think exceptions or 'wild cards' are a good idea, personally.

3. Should commentaries count:

C) Yes, but only one viewing is allowed: Either with a commentary or without.

4. Should television series (Buffy, Angel, Supernatural, etc.) count:

B) No. As the titles indicates, it's "The October Horror MOVIE Challenge".

I'm tempted to say they should count, since my total would be much higher that way but as others have stated, this is a movie challenge. Unless you change the name of the challenge, and then I'm all for it.

5. Should horror documentaries (The American Nightmare, Boogeymen, Fear in the Dark, etc.) count:

A) Yes.

Only if they meet the runtime requirement, whatever that winds up being.

6. Should we continue having two separate threads (One for lists, one for discussion):

A) Yes. It makes the lists easier to sort through.

wishbone

1. What should constitute a qualifying feature film:
A) The current 40-minute rule -- The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the American Film Institute, and the British Film Institute all define a feature as a film with a running time of forty minutes or longer.

2. Concerning "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" being the one exception to the rules:
C) Enact the three "wild cards" option as brought-up by caligulathegod.

3. Should commentaries count:
C) Yes, but only one viewing is allowed: Either with a commentary or without.

4. Should television series (Buffy, Angel, Supernatural, etc.) count:
C) Other. Please explain. No for television series but yes for mini-series -- counts as one title.

5. Should horror documentaries (The American Nightmare, Boogeymen, Fear in the Dark, etc.) count:
A) Yes. If you allow 1-A. then you should allow 5-A.

6. Should we continue having two separate threads (One for lists, one for discussion):
A) Yes. It makes the lists easier to sort through.

Would it be more accurate to call this the "October Horror Film Challenge" if docs, etc., are allowed?

JerryKILL

1. A
2. C
3. D
4. C...individual episodes should not count, but made for TV movies (including miniseries) should count (eg "The Stand" should count, but "Masters of Horror" should not count).
5. A
6. A

advdfreak

1. B) 60 minutes. Please note this would disqualify some older Universal, etc. films that run slightly under an hour as well as a few "Masters of Horror" episodes.

2. C) Enact the three "wild cards" option as brought-up by caligulathegod.

3. D) No. Only films.

4. B) No. As the titles indicates, it's "The October Horror MOVIE Challenge".

5. A) Yes. (as long as they are at least over 60 min.)

6. A) Yes. It makes the lists easier to sort through.

Peep

Well put! I'm amazed at all the arguments over such a ridiculous "bragging rights" topic.

noitulove

When playing a game there are rules that need to be followed, making this thread will cut down all the arguments. If you dont like it dont post in the thread your just adding on to the bitching and arguments.

Shack

1. A Current lengths are fine.
2. C Wildcards are a good idea, but if we do them, they're for Halloween specials, not episodes of Buffy, Angel, etc.
3. B
4. B Absolutely not
5. A Yes, if they meet the 60-minute run time
6. A Yes! Makes reading a lot easier

Another suggestion: set established below-100 goal levels from the start for those who can't make that many (like you've done with the results). This will give a sense of accomplishment to those who set and reach smaller amounts, and lessen the series of posts talking about how busy everyone is with work and school. Perhaps the categories could be named for horror filmmakers, unless that would set off arguments in itself...

Thanks again Chad for all your work.

MovieExchange

To all those answering "no" for question 4 - Masters of Horror is a TV series, but it seems no one has a problem with its inclusion. Why? How is a 44 minute episode of Masters of Horror different from a 44 minute episode of Angel or Buffy the Vampire Slayer? The only difference I can think of is that Masters of Horror has a shorter season.

Maybe this has already been discussed elsewhere, and if so please point me towards the answer. I'm new to this discussion, as I was too busy to participate in last month's challenge.

RobCA

I've never seen it, but if it's a TV series, then it shouldn't be included. Including it, while excluding hour-long episodes of other TV shows, especially other anthology shows, doesn't make any sense. JMHO, YMMV

Rob